Living and Eating

The premise of not being in the kitchen attending to dinner while your guests amuse themselves was the most welcome news I had come across in a cookbook. I love folks milling around the stove but only if I can still concentrate on what needs to be done. This cookbook has great recipes, mostly simple, and everyone a winner. Our Food Group (8 people) have used this book more than once for menus and I love to point out that it hails from England! I want a sequel with more finger-food for those balmy California evenings outdoors. Please.

I've got hundreds of cookery books. This is my favourite cookery book for several reasons. The recipes are fail-proof and the results are restaurant quality every time. The recipes appeal to me and make me want to try them (there are only a handful of things remaining that I've not tried to make yet). The book is as much about lifestyle and style as much as cookery - its refreshing to look at and inspiring to read. My favourite recipes from the book are often the most simple and frequently cook them - midnight spaghetti, vichyssoise & salmon, venetian peas & rice, tomato & basil lasagne, the best shepherds pie you could ever make and a nifty way to cook perfect, tender steaks.

Being an amateur cook is not always easy. But this book starts out setting the stage with cookware etc. It then explains in an effortless way how to cook some of the best dishes I have ever prepared. The stuff works every time and it always looks good. Currently this is my one stop book for all my dinner parties, and I have a large collection of cookbooks! Well worth the money and a beautiful book to read as well.